Christine Marie McCain

Christine Marie Smigielski McCain passed away on November 7th, 2024. She was 62. Christine was born in Niskayuna, NY on May 16th, 1962 to Stephen A. Smigielski and M. Colleen McCusker Smigielski, the oldest of 5 children. During her childhood the family moved several times, eventually landing in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she graduated high school. It was there that she agreed to be her best friend's “wingwoman” on a date with a sailor. Unbeknownst to them, that sailor had asked his best friend to be his “wingman” on the same date. He told his friend “she has a nice personality.”

After a 7 week courtship Mark proposed, Christine accepted, and a few days later Mark left for Norfolk, VA. for deployment on a submarine. He return on May 12th, 1983 and drove over night. On May 14th, 1983 they were wed in Saratoga Springs NY and left the next day for Norfolk, VA. On the first morning they were married Mark went for a run before Christine woke up. When he returned Christine asked if he did that a lot. That afternoon they bought Christine her first running shoes. She could not run to the end of the block.

Over the next 19 years Christine moved 19 times in support of her husband's career, often by herself, taking care of the household while he was gone and raising 2 children, as well as serving as the command OMBUDSMAN at the end of their career, taking care of the young wives while their husbands were deployed. She continued to run.

In 2002 they retired from the Navy and moved to Deer Park, NY, where they continued to live until her death. When Mark hurt is knee and bought a bicycle for rehabilitation, Christine insisted they get her a bike. When Mark decided to do a triathlon Christine decided to do a triathlon, but didn't know how to swim. She took private lessons and soon finished 5 Ironman races, multiple shorter triathlons, numerous marathons, including Long Island, NYC, Boston, Washington DC, and Chicago, as well as hundreds of shorter running races.

On July 13th, 2024 she completed her last race, a women's 5K, with several of her friends. A few minutes after finishing Christine had a massive stroke that kills most people, Christine survived but eventually succumbed to complications. The fact that she nearly overcame the stroke was the last example of a very strong independent woman that put her all into everything she did.

She is survived by Mark, her husband of 41 years, her daughter Marisa A. Gelsomino (Salvatore) of West Islip, her son Sean P. McCain (Krista) of Bayshore, her mother Colleen of Myrtle Beach SC, a sister Patrice and a brother Steven, both of Myrtle Beach, SC, and her cats Nala, Stevie, and Swiffer. She was proceeded in death by her father Stephen and 2 brothers, Allen and Edward. She was looking forward to her first grandchild in March of 2025.

A celebration of her life will be held Sunday, November 17th, 2024 from 2 to 6 pm at Boyd-Caratozzolo Funeral Home, 1785 Deer Park, NY 11729. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made to a local animal shelter.